Veteran Chicago stage actress Kate Buddeke, who appeared on Broadway in the 2003 revival of Gypsy and the 2009 premiere of Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts, will take on the role of Margie Walsh in the Alliance Theatre production of David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People.

Thomas Vincent Kelly ("24," "Criminal Minds") will portray Mike opposite Buddeke, a Jeff Award-winning Chicago native known for her work with the American Theater Company and the American Blues Theater, who has also appeared on Broadway in the 1994 revival of Carousel and the Tony Award-winning 1999 revival of Death of a Salesman.

Alliance artistic director Susan V. Booth will stage the production that will run Jan. 16-Feb. 10, 2013. An official opening has been set for Jan. 23, 2013.

The cast will also include Brenda Bynum (August: Osage County) as Dottie, Andrew Benator as Stevie, Lala Cochran as Jean and Kristen Ariza as Kate.

According to the Alliance, "Set in South Boston, 'Southie' Margie Walsh is living a pay check to pay check existence as a single mom caring for her disabled adult daughter. When Margie is fired from her job, she approaches a high school boyfriend who made it up and out and into his own medical practice for help. She soon realizes that not everyone wants to be reminded of their humble beginnings. Good People wrestles with the question of whether our lot in life is determined by choice or circumstance."